Early identification of children at risk for various forms of school maladaptation is critical in rural schools, where services and resources are typically limited. The present study assesses the psychometric characteristics and utility of the AML, a teacher rating scale employed in a rural region. The 11-item teacher scale yields 4 scores: acting-out/aggressive, moody, learning, and total. A sample of 575 school children in 21 first- through third-grade classrooms across 3 southern Appalachian counties were rated by their teachers. Results indicate that, for this sample, the scale appears to have substantial reliability and validity features, as well as potential utility as a screening device for early detection of school maladaptation. (Author/RH)